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Join us for the first dance adaptation of Hamish Henderson’s award-winning poetry book 'Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica', still considered as one of the finest poetic writing to come out of the Second World War.*
Pay What You Can (£5, £10 or £15). Book now: https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:5312/913:22160/
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Hamish Henderson (1919-2002) was a soldier-poet and scholar-folk revivalist. 'Elegies...' is his first-hand account from the North African desert military campaign for which he won the Somerset Maugham Award 75 years ago. His dedication of the book: “for our own and the others” positions the story within our own common bonds, fragility and humanity. Reporting from the ‘deadlands’ of Cyrenaica (modern-day Libya), the story also reveals the shared helplessness of those loved ones at home waiting, praying – and dancing.
Set both in the desert and the dance hall of the 1940s, this dance theatre production is inspired by the popular social dance culture at the time – ceilidh, jive, swing and lindy hop. The production also weaves in the live reading of the poems, alongside specially composed and newly arranged trad music and songs.
“Elegies is a dance poem of serious reflection – a lament for all lives lost not only in WWII but in our world of conflicts, oppression and inequality. We were delighted by the positive reaction we received when it was first performed on Remembrance Day last year, and very proud of everyone who has worked with us on this revised adaptation as part of this year’s Pomegranates Festival.” Wendy Timmons. Jim Mackintosh and Iliyana Nedkova, Elegies co-curators
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Elegies is curated and produced by Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland. Originally commissioned for the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2023, it is extended and revised for Pomegranates Festival 2024 under the choreography of George Adams with the assistance of Helen Gould. Lighting design: Roddy Simpson. Set and costumes: Katie Dixbury.
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Elegies cast of dancers: Helen Gould, Nicola Thomson, Edwin Wen and Aimee Williamson; Musician: Cera Impala; Spoken word artists: Morag Anderson and Stephen Watt; Cameo: Jim Mackintosh
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There will be a post-performance lindy hop social dance session, led and accompanied by Pomegranates 2024 resident musicians from the Castle Rock Jazz Band, in the main atrium at the Scottish Storytellling Centre. All welcome. Tickets are Pay What You Can (£5, £10 or £15). Book now: https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:5341/913:22235/
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Established in 2022, Pomegranates is Scotland’s annual festival of international dance. Initiated and curated by Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland, the festival is produced in partnership with Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh City Libraries, Dance Base and the Scottish Storytelling Centre. This year, the festival features artists’ residencies and social dance sessions, exhibitions and tours, shows and workshops, plus our first Pomegranates Family Sunday.
Browse the full Pomegranates fstival programme here: https://linktr.ee/pomegranatesfest
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 43 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR, United Kingdom,Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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