February 2, 2019
Following our recent announcement that Hidden Door has been saved and will be back in May 2019, we’re now excited to confirm that we’ll be returning to the wonderful Leith Theatre, with a special opening night presented in partnership with The List.
This year’s event will take the form of a long weekender, running from Thursday 30 May to Sunday 2 June 2019. The festival’s core team of volunteers are now busy pulling together the full programme, with more announcements to follow soon.
David Martin, Creative Director of Hidden Door, said: “We believe Hidden Door is making a real difference to artists and creative people in Scotland. It is creating accessible, engaging experiences for audiences, and is leaving a legacy, both to the communities we invest in and the fabric of the city itself, such as with the Leith Theatre. It’s hugely exciting to be returning to that glorious venue for a long weekend of fun, and we’re also proud to again be working with The List”.
Hidden Door’s army of volunteers transformed the Leith Theatre back in 2017, providing the initial spark to get the art deco gem back up and running. The festival returned there in 2018, attracting over 13,000 visitors with highlights including a sold-out show from the multi award-winning Young Fathers. In August 2018, the festival’s core team of volunteers curated a special event as part of the Edinburgh International Festival, with alt rock legends The Jesus and Mary Chain – a night widely regarded as a fitting culmination of efforts to bring the theatre back to life.
Jack Hunter, chair of the Leith Theatre Trust, said: “We are thrilled that Hidden Door has both secured enough funding to continue and also that it returns to Leith Theatre in 2019 in a fantastic, packed weekend programme. Hidden Door has been instrumental in putting Leith Theatre on the map and generous in its time and support of our campaign to save the theatre. The campaign to reopen the full complex at Leith Theatre continues to make progress and we are in positive conversations to support the building and its role within the community of Leith, and for the city of Edinburgh. Watch this space!”
In 2017, Hidden Door collaborated with The List on two nights of live music – bringing Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) award winner Anna Meredith and Scottish indie legends Idlewild to the Leith Theatre main stage. The partnership continued last year, with a powerful all-female lineup including Honeyblood’s Stina Tweeddale, Dream Wife and Mercury Prize nominee Nadine Shah.
Arusa Qureshi, Editor at The List, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Hidden Door again this year and delighted to see the festival heading back to the Leith Theatre. Hidden Door is one of the city’s most inspiring and truly unique events, proving every year that Edinburgh has plenty to offer year-round. The List are pleased to support such a fantastic festival and we can’t wait to present another cracking opening night with some of our favourite acts.”
Hidden Door is an arts organisation which aims to open up urban spaces as a platform for new and emerging artists, musicians, theatre makers, performers, film makers and poets. Through organising temporary events Hidden Door works to showcase new work and create engaging environments for the public to experience, explore and discover.
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Photographs from past festivals can be accessed here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/
Contact press@hiddendoorblog.org for more information, to arrange interviews or for additional photographs.
Photo by Chris Scott Photography.
